TRAINING A PUPPY: FIRMNESS IS KEY
by Dan Hickey
The following is excerpted from an email "conversation" Mr. Hickey had with a friend, which was "cc'd" to Leslie Ames. She was so impressed with what Mr. Hickey had to say about training dogs in general, and hounds in particular, she asked him if she could print part of his email on this site.
Apparently, Mr. Hickey is responding to a remark from a friend, something to the effect that serious training, as Mr. Hickey recommends, can "steal" a dog's puppyhood:
I'm also not sure it's possible to steal
puppyhood away, short of serious abuse. There are times when it's
appropriate to greet and play with other dogs and times when it's not,
even for the youngest puppy. Your dog needs to understand that you can and
will set limits, and make decisions about what actions are appropriate. If
you're having problems being firm: why weren't you my mommy?
Seriously, though, without firmness, you'll most likely never get the behavior you desire. I have done extensive
training with my dog, Diamond, and early on we came up with two important
commands. "Diamond, SIT!!" is the signal indicating that we're going to work. All sniffing, marking, playing stop. I get a sit and I get attention. On the other
side we have a release word: "Diamond, O.K.!!", which says we are finished and
the decisions are now his to make. Between the two is work time and he
completely pays attention to me.
*Scent hounds like bassets and bloodhounds were
bred to be independent hunting partners who make and execute their own
strategy (really very smart). Obedience training forces them into
relying upon you for all the decisions (micromanaging their actions).
This is contrary to their instincts so requires significant extra
effort.
Used by permission
*emphasis added
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